A journey through Central Asia and beyond, Moon over Samarqand is the story of one
Egyptian’s quest for the truth. Seeking explanations to his troubled past
through a long-lost friend in Samarqand, Ali’s travel brings him into
encounters with the Uzbekistan of today, yesterday, and once upon a time. His
tale embraces many tales—those of his confounding taxi driver, of Islamic
activists, and of the criminal underworld, as well as stories of struggles
against authoritarianism in Egypt. Woven among these are legendary tales of
gypsies, khans, and madmen, of magic, treasure, and love.

Muhammed Mansi Qandil was born in 1949 in the Egyptian Delta city of Mahalla al-Kubra. He lives in Kuwait with his wife and son, where he writes for the monthly magazine al-'Arabi.